Coin-controlled mechanism



` PATENTED PEB. 16, 1904. s.`PRAscHL. G01N GONTROLLBD MBGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEP'L 18. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N() MODEL.

TNVENT D E:

ATTE?. T;

, STEPHAN PEASCHL,

` EN AT'Y.

No. 752,629. PATBNTBD PEB. 16, 1904.

S. PRASCHL.

COIN GON'IROLLBD MECHANISM. APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 1s, 190s.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

TTEET: INVENTCIR; f-\ 'jTPHAN PEASEHL,

TTY

mi uonms Emis co.. nuoraumo.. wnsnmummp. e.

dUNITED STATES Patented February 16, 1904.

rPATENT OFFICE.

STEPHAN FRASCHL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO LEWIS SANDS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

COIN-CONT'ROLLED MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 752,629, dated February 16, 1904.

`Application filed September 18,1903. Serial No. 173,675. (No model.)l

To all whom it may concern,.- l

Be it known that LSTEPHAN PnAsoHL, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Mechanism, of which the followingis a specification.

' My invention relates to improvements in coin-controlled mechanism, and has for its objects the provision of means for eifecting predetermined movements or signals on the part of the actuated apparatus, for more certainly and effectively causing the actuation of the device, and for accomplishing other beneiieial results in machines of this character, as will be made apparent in the annexed description. Magnets have long been used in this class of apparatus for the purpose of .detecting and removing steel or iron slugs improperly inserted to operate the mechanism; but it has commonly been found necessary so to weaken the magnets or reduce their effectiveness that they do not always intercept the spurious coins under the penalty of clogging the coin-chute when an iron or steel disk of the required size is inserted therein. This results by reason of the liability of the magnetic body to cling tenaciously or stick to the poles of the magnet or other excited part. Hence the devices are so arranged that the magnetic body is merely slightly attracted or deflected by the magnet. Accordingly I have employed a magnet of ample strength in association with means actuated in the normal use of the machine or device for positively removing the slug or spurious coin from the coin-receiving chute or tube. This chute preferably is formed in sections or parts peculiarly adapted or specialized for accomplishing the desired results. Thus oneportion is positively actuated by the action of the movable part or plunger to move v out of alinement and divert any magnetic body attracted or retained by the magnet. Another portion has an inclined face opposite the ac-` tuated part, between which the coin is interposed normally, and these are in combination with a spring-actuated part or detent, more certainly securing the operation of the mechinto itsreceptacle.

anism and the proper discharge of the coin The Vcom accordingly is made an intermediate operative part initially,

but is freed from engagement at the critical moment and ejected into a till or receptacle, while an engaged cam part completes the operation or cycle in the mechanism and effects the signal or other actuation of the machine. A plurality of associated signaling parts may be employed, if desired, to effect prearranged results or signals of distinctive character.

My improvements, however, may be much more readily described by making reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating a device embodying my invention in a form adapted for telephone toll-stations.

- In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved mechanism with the front thereof at the left. Fig.2 is a vertical central sectional elevation thereof from front to rear.. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the mechanism from the opposite side of that shown in Fig.r l. Fig. 4 is a view of the device from the top on line X X, Fig. 3, a few of the minor parts being omitted; and Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on line y y of the lastnamed figure.

The same character of reference has been employed throughout the several figures to indicate similar parts. i

The mechanism shown in the views is designed to be used for more than oneppurpose in coin-controlled devices and is adapted to a pay-telephone, where a certain price or size of coin is fixed and a bellis adapted to be rung when the coin is paid into the machine; but the -same mechanism can be employed for other fpurposes, such as delivering packages or the like in lieu of ringing thelbell or with the bell. Y

To these several ends the invention comprises `a suitable central standard A, shown herein as having the form substantially of a plain plate, which is suitably supported on a pass beneath the lower edge thereof.

tain permanently-attached parts, which also will appear in the further description.

In this instance I show a bell B, adapted to be rung When a coin of a predetermined value and kind has been deposited in the machine. Said coin may be a penny, nickel, dime, or other coin, and whichever size or kind is used the slot and other parts through which it travels are made of a like proportion, so as to utilize only that one size and none other with that particular machine. As shown in Fig. 2, the coin C is at its first stop in the middle of the machine, Where it rests until removed by the plunger P, which has a head 2 projecting outside of the inclosing casing E. The coin in reaching its first position passes first through a substantially flat tube D, which is provided with a spring-surrounded stem 3, having its spring 4 so arranged as to hold the said tube normally in its working position, but on which the tube is adapted to swing to one side-for example, as seen vin dotted lines, Fig. 4. The casing E has a slot 5, which registers with the top of tube D, so that a coin of the right kind deposited therein will drop at once and without interruption to the position shown at C. Here the coin rests on an inclined edge 6 beneath plunger P and at its rear bears against a shoulder 7, rigid with arm 8, which is pivoted on screw or stud 9 and carries the striker or hammer 10 with it, so that when the arm 8 is actuated by'a backward thrust of plunger P, pressing the coin C against shoulder 7, the hammer 10 is raised sufficiently to deliver the required stroke, which is made the moment the coin passes into the runway below. If necessary, a spring can be used in connection with the arm 8 to give emphasis to the stroke of the hammer 10. When the coin has passed below, it rests in the position C', Fig.2, and each succeeding coin holds its last place of rest until it has been dropped out to make room for the next one, as' hereinafter described.

Returning now to the fiat tube D, it will be seen in Fig. 3 that there is arranged in connection with this tube a magnet M, having its free poles openly exposed through holes in the side of tube D to theinside thereof. This is for the purpose of intercepting any false or spurious pieces which may be dropped into the tube D in lieu of the proper coin, and if they be of a spurious character-such as iron, steel, or the like-the magnet M will at once intercept them and prevent them from dropping to a lower position. This interception will occur within the tube and before thley T is having occurred, I provide for the-ir removal without passing through the actuating mechanism of the machine by swinging tube D to one side, as seen in Fig. 4, and dropping the spurious article from out the same to one side of the machine. This rotation of the said tube takes place at every forward stroke of the plunger; but itdoes not affect the proper c oin, because such coin at once'drops into the lower portion of its passage to position, as at C, Fig. 2, and is not affected by the magnet. For actuating said tube D, I provide the stem thereof with a lateral linger 11, Fig. 5, and employ a projection 12 at one side of the plunger-head to engage the same at the right time and cause the rotation which has occurred in Fig. 4. When the plunger is withdrawn or carried back by its retracting-spring 14, the tube D assumes its normal position by the operation of its own spring4 and is ready to receive the next coin. The magnet M does not affect the coins which are used, but it will at once detect and hold any magnetic body of the shape and weight of a coin that may be inserted in the tube D and eject it from the coin-chute. The plunger P enters the body of the mechanism, as seen in Fig. 2, but is equipped with an outerportion P, to ywhich spring 14 is attached and which is slotted at 15 to receive the screw or stud 16, by which means it is guided in its movement.

In some uses of this mechanism, as when applied to telephone service, it is quite advantageous to have a plurality of hammers adapted to strike the bell or gong successively with suitable punctuating intervals of time. Accordingly two hammers have been applied to the mechanism of the drawings, so arranged that hammer 16 shall not strike until a moment or so after hammer 10, thus resulting in separately sounding the bell to effect a given sign-al. This auxiliary hammer 16 has a stem or arm 17, pivoted at 18, and is provided with va spring 19 to give accent to its stroke. At the angle 2O of said stem is a laterally-projecting stud 21, adapted to be engaged by finger or arm 22, carried by sleeve or head 24 on the pivot or screw 9. Upon this sleeve also are attached the stem of hammer 10 and the cam (Z3, in addition to the parts already named, and accordingly when the coin C is forced against shoulder 7 all of the parts pivotally mounted by screw 9 will be actuated. This serves to move arm or nger 22 upward and backward, bringing it into lifting engagement with projection or stud 21 and raising hammer 16 in turn upon its pivot 18. When thus raised, its heel projection a is engaged by the shouldered extremity of trip 26, and said hammer is held until released by the full return of the plunger. Spring c bears downward upon the opposite or shorter end of trip 26, thereby elevating its other end IOO IIO

until the trip is released by riding down 01T h engage cam d3, of eculiar form, durino` the4 e I) is inward movement of the plunger, Ysaid cam being rotated initially finto the path of the projection or stud whenever an interposed coin is in positionC.` The shape of the cam is best shown in Figs. 1 and 5, wherein it is seen to possess a wing-like contour in outline j and have an inwardly-projecting lug di, de-

signed to clear the stud Z2 when the cam has been rotated sufciently to sound the bell upon the release of hammer 10. Accordingly upon from the part 7 and detent 162.

the continued inward movement of the plunger the coin, rotating sleeve 24: and its connected i parts, is .engaged kand temporarily held in position in Fig. 5.

The arm 8, attached to sleeve 24, is equipped with a retracting-spring 30, thereby adapting it to operate the connected coin-releasing member 31 and the recording mechanism above and controlledby link 32. After a coin leaves its first position C it drops in the runway 54E4 to position C', where it is exposed to outer View. Here it rests on inward projection g on the part 31, and when this is drawn backward by raising arm 8 coin C is dropped, making room for the next coin. The same operation actuates the recording or registering mechanism above, which has an outside arm 36, engaged by link 32. The said recording or registering mechanism 37 as such does not constitute a part of this invention except in combination, and therefore is not more fully disclosed.

In operation when a coin is dropped into the machine through the so-called flat tube or coin-receiving sectionD it drops at once into the place of rest, (indicated by C, Fig. 2.) Here it will remain until removed through the operation of the plunger P. In this operation the coin forms a connecting part between the plunger and the rotatable part 7, referred to hereinbefore as a shoulder against which the coin rests at its rear, while it lies upon the inclined surface 6 at its front. Then as the plunger is pressed inward the arm 8 and the hammer 1() are carried forward by reason of the rotation o f part 7 to let the coin pass down, and at the same time the sleeve 24E, integral with the part 7, and the other parts associated rigidly with said hub, are rotated in a corresponding degree. This causes arm 22 to swing backward to the left, Fig. 1, and raise hammer 16 and at the same time cause it to be engaged with the trip 26 to hold it in temporary suspension. Thereupon `as soon as the coin is released the parts all resume their natural position at once under the operations of their own springs, excepting hammer 16, which is not released until the plunger has gone back sufficiently to free the trip 26 by its engagement with lug @Z on the side -of the plunger. Then hammer 16 is enabled to drop and deliver its stroke, and this is the last action as the result of a single operation of the plunger. The coin-receiving tube-section D, so called, returns to its normal position the moment that projection 12 disengages the finger 11, which occurs when the plunger isl about half-way back in its movement. The coin-chute comprisestube-section D, thetrough or channel 34 below,`and an intermediatev space formed in part by anl outside plate A, which is spaced apart from the standard plate A'sufliciently to provide or afford a channel between them for the coin to descendfrom -tube D to trough 34 along the line of its travel, as plainly indicated in Fig. 2. Ofcourse the depth of the machine from side to side through these plates A and A' is very slight, so that the plunger proper, which enters between plates A and A in to the space where the coin rests, is also small in cross-section, corresponding mainly to the thickness of the coin, and all substantially as seen in the plan views Figa-1 and 5. j

Magnet M is attached by a suitable bracket or equivalent support to the plate A and at an inclination so as to throw its free extremity or poles to the interior of tube-section D when the latter is in normal position, whereby the maximum magnetic strength is exertedupon any spurious coin, while leaving the tube perfectly free for the -passage of a legitimate coin or proper operating-check. Depending upon the movement of the plunger, sectionD will always exert the requisite force to free the tube of slugs and eject them from the operative portion of the mechanism.` This object requires merely the relative movement of the magnet and some portion of the coinreceiving chute or passage to free the latter from improperly-inserted slugs.

Cam d3 in its coperation with the coin and the actuating mechanism, including the springactuated detent 162, very eifectively and certainly secures the operation of the device upon the insertion of a proper coin and the deposit of said coin at the proper moment from the coin-chute into the designated receptacle.

I have entered herein somewhat minutely into the details of construction of the illustrated mechanism embodying my invention; but I do not desire to be understood as necessarily limiting myself to the particular form of apparatus thus set forth.

1. Inacoin-controlled device, a plunger provided .with a projection thereon, a yielding spring-pressed member in the path of the coin IOO,

IIO

and in line with the plunger, a hammer mounted thereon, a sleeve carrying a cam mounted on said member, said cam being adapted to be engaged by the projection of the plunger, 'a

supplemental hammer mounted, independ ently of the first, adjacent the sleeve, means carried by the sleeve adapted to actuate the supplemental hammer, and means operated by the plunger for preventing the last-named hammer striking for a period after the first, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a coin-controlled mechanism, the cornbination With a plunger havinga cam thereon, a rotatable coin-arresting member, in line With the plunger, a hammer carried thereby, a sleeve carrying an arm secured to the said member, a supplemental hammer actuated by the arm, and a trip adapted to engage said hammer adapted to be actuated bythe cam of the plunger to release the last-named hammer at a period after the striking of the first-named hammer, substantially as described.

3. In a coin-controlled mechanism, the combination with a slidably-rnounted plunger, of a coin-actuated means to which a coin vimparts initiatory movement, means carried upon and integral With the plunger for continuing the movement of said coin-actuated means, and means operated by the coin-actuated means to release the coin comprising a pivoted arm having an integral projection thereon extending into the path of the coin, substantially as 'described.

4. In a device of the type set forth, the combination with a slidably-mounted, manuallyoperated plunger having springcontrolling means thereon, a rotatable, yielding 'coin-controlled means in line With the plunger adapted to receive initiatory movement from the coin, a spring-'pressed trip adapted to lock -said means, means carried by the plunger to release said trip, and means actuated by the coin-controlled means to release the coin, substantially as described.

5. In adevice of the character described, the combination With a coin-chute, of a springcontrolled plunger, a coin-controlled means arranged in a line With the plunger adapted to receive its initiatory movement from a coin deposited in the chute, a pivoted trip adapted to lock said means until a return of the plunger, and means integral With the plunger for releasing the trip on its return, to further actuate the said coin-controlled means, substantially as described.

Signed at Cleveland, this 8th day of September, 1903, in the presence 'of two subscribing Witnesses.

STEPHAN PRASCHL. Witnesses:

CHAs. C. CADDEN, ALBERT LYNN LAWRENCE.` 

